atl (Mdz18r)

The particular place name from which we have derived this representation of the atl), Atlan, does not include the -pan- element of apantli. Nevertheless, in many other glyphs, this particular sign represents "apan." See, for example, how apantli appears in the Acuitlapan compound glyph, below on the right. The usual sign for apantli consists of two elements, atl (water) and pantli (agricultural furrow). Thus, it also works as an agricultural ditch meant for irrigation. But the detail of the cross-section of the bottom and sides of the canal suggest some degree of human intervention or construction. The red and yellow strips surrounding the water are somewhat reminiscent of the lines at the bottom of the tepetl sign, perhaps indicating where the mountain spring water might emerge. Just as the Atlan glyph uses the apantli in place of atl, we have several examples of what might appear to be a simple atl) glyph where the glosses support the phonetic reading of apantli, as shown in additional attestations on the lower right of this record.

A great many of the apantli glyphs from the Codex Mendoza are simpler than this one. The edging of the water channel calls for greater iconographic analysis. Similar patterns appear in reference to bodies of water in the Codex Nuttall, cited by Barbara Mundy as appearing on pp. 51 and 75. [See her contribution "Mesoamerican Cartography," in The History of Cartography, v. 2, bk. 3 Cartography in the Traditional African, American, Arctic, Australian, and Pacific Societies (Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 1998).]